Wade, Cator seek Canandaigua City Council Ward 4 spot

Monday

Nov 4, 2013 at 7:44 PM

Republican Cindy Wade will look for re-election for a third term as the city of Canandaigua Ward 4 councilwoman; however, North Bloomfield Road resident, and Democrat, Donna Cator will look to unseat her.

Republican Cindy Wade will look for re-election for a third term as the city of Canandaigua Ward 4 councilwoman; however, North Bloomfield Road resident, and Democrat, Donna Cator will look to unseat her.

Both Wade and Cator said they would like to see improved transparency on City Council, along with better communication between council and city staff members.

Cator pointed to the removal of speed humps on her road in May — without notification to residents — as something that irked her.

Wade had a similar view on the speed hump removal. She also added that she would like to see less of items that are added to meeting agendas at the last minute. Wade suggested that the committee meetings could perhaps be filmed for public benefit.

According to the 2013 city budget, City Council members received a salary of $4,735 this year. City Councilmen and women serve two years terms.

Cindy Wade

AGE: 55

PARTY AFFILIATION: Endorsed by both Republican and Conservative parties

EXPERIENCE: Three years Planning Commissioner on City Planning Commission; 4 years Ward 4 City Council representative; work as business consultant, many years working with budgets, strategic planning and analytical research

Q. The lakefront is an important topic for many, what are your thoughts on the North Shore development and Canandaigua Finger Lakes Resort?

A. I'm very excited about both projects. I think it's something the lakefront can use, and the city can use. One of the things I'm most excited about — within the North Shore project — they're going to revamp Booth Street. We all know how terrible it is to do Booth Street, coming out of Parkway Plaza. It'll be a much straighter and actually looked at by some transportation people.

Q. What are your thoughts on the Main Street crosswalk issue. How can downtown safety improve?

A. As far as the crosswalks go, it's about perception and education. The law actually says, 'the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk.' It also says, 'no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb if other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impractical for the driver to yield.' So, in theory it's great to have crosswalks where there is no signal. In reality, you have to have signalized crosswalks.

Q. What are your thoughts on issues in your ward?

A. I'm against city money being used for the dog park. I think a dog park is great, I have two dogs, but certainly not in that location. Why do they want to spend all that time and effort to organize this dog park when everyone uses the VA as a dog park?

Donna Cator

AGE 49

PARTY AFFILIATION Democrat

RESIDENT OF North Bloomfield Road

FAMILY Husband Allyn, daughter Alexandria

EXPERIENCE Financial planning officer at Canandaigua National Bank and Trust; member of the United Way of Ontario County

Q. The lakefront is an important topic for many, what are your thoughts on the North Shore development and Canandaigua Finger Lakes Resort?

A. I think Canandaigua is already a tourist destination, and that will step it up. I'm exciting for the economic aspect — there will be more stores, hopefully. That will help with tax revenues, it's just going to help the city. I don't know what the negative impacts will be, and that's a reason I want to get involved — to do the research, see what the pros and cons are.

Q. What are your thoughts on the Main Street crosswalk issue. How can downtown safety improve?

A. One death is too many. There's already been more than one, that's unacceptable. But again, how do you make downtown walker friendly, but safe? I don't have the answer, I don't know if it's remove the crosswalks. I know City Council is putting in the crosswalk lights — I'm not saying that's good or bad — but I know they're addressing safety.

Q. What are your thoughts on issues in your ward?

A. People were a little blindsided on the whole Baker Park dog park proposal. Before it gets in the newspaper, and to council, there needs to be communication with those people (near Baker Park). I'm in favor of a dog park concept, but Baker Park is probably not the appropriate place.